MURRAY, KY — One of the greatest players in Murray State men’s basketball history is headed to a new NBA opportunity.
Popeye Jones has been hired as an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic, adding another stop to a coaching career that has now spanned more than 15 years in the league.
Jones spent last season on Jason Kidd’s staff with the Dallas Mavericks. Now, he’ll join first-year head coach Sean Sweeney in Orlando as the Magic continue building on back-to-back playoff appearances.
Before his coaching career, Jones left a lasting legacy in Murray.
The Dresden, Tennessee native starred for the Racers from 1988 to 1992, earning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year honors twice. He finished his career with 2,057 points and a school-record 1,374 rebounds, still the only player in program history to reach both 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
His No. 54 jersey was later retired, cementing his place among the all-time greats in Racer history.
Jones was selected in the second round of the 1992 NBA Draft and went on to play 11 seasons in the NBA with seven different organizations before moving into coaching.
He began his coaching career with the Dallas Mavericks before spending time with the Nets, Pacers, 76ers, Nuggets and Mavericks. In 2023, he helped Denver capture the first NBA championship in franchise history, becoming the first Murray State men’s basketball alumnus to win an NBA title as a coach.
Now, Jones adds another chapter to an already impressive basketball career, bringing more than three decades of NBA playing and coaching experience to Orlando’s bench.